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Conversion of prairie, woodlands and wetlands to crop lands helped feed a growing nation and a hungry world.
Today, most land suited for intensive agriculture is already under cultivation. Meanwhile, federal farm programs like the Conservation Reserve Program have taken millions of acres of marginal crop land out of production. That has helped farmers keep their operations financially viable. And, it has provided vital habitat for animals and plants as well as a host of recreation opportunities.
Yet as demands for commodity crops like corn rise due to growing global population and increasing consumption for byproducts like ethanol, pressure is rising to once again farm marginal lands. In fact, scientists say that with world population predicted to increase by another 3 billion by 2050 more food has to be produced within the next several decades than during the last 10,000 years.
At stake is shrinking and increasingly fragmented natural habitats, already beset by growing urbanization, invasive species and other threats. For some species such as grassland birds, the result is dramatic population declines.
What The Nature Conservancy is Doing.
- At the Emiquon Preserve south of Peoria along the Illinois River, the Conservancy and its partners are working to restore more than 7,000 acres of corn and soybean fields to its former state of wetlands, prairie and woodlands.
- Restoring the Emiquon floodplain will proved vital habitat for aquatic species and migratory birds, among other species. For residents and visitors, the vision for Emiquon is to offer numerous recreation and educational opportunities and provide ecosystem services such as flood control.
- In Brazil’s Cerrado, one of the world’s most biologically diverse savannas, intensive land conversion over the past three decades has increased run-off of topsoil laden with chemicals and nutrients into rivers. Downstream, this affects the people and animals that depend on healthy freshwater habitats. At risk is the Pantanal, home to the greatest concentration of fauna in the Americas.
- Conservancy staff is working with partners to enhance Brazilian programs such as the grasslands exchange that are critical to conservation success in the Cerrado and affected watersheds.
Action starts when people talk.
Even as natural habitats face pressure due to expanding crop production and other threats, there are reasons for hope and things we can do as individuals. First, start a conversation about the issue with friends, family and colleagues. Take a look at our Conversation Starters related to habitat preservation for relevant and compelling facts. And, learn more about our work by visiting the Conservancy’s web site, nature.org.
